DUBAI // Plans to build a huge architectural scale model of the emirate are being studied by city officials.
The project, which has not been named, has yet to receive final approval from Dubai Municipality.
But a booklet containing rough guidelines has been submitted to companies specialising in scale models, many of whom have prepared samples they will submit in the event of a tender.
“I hope it will happen but it is a huge project,” said Hussain Nasser Lootah, the director general of Dubai Municipality.
“It is under study now and we will announce it soon.”
The model will be an entirely faithful rendition of Dubai in miniature. Plans are unconfirmed but the model is believed to be about the size of a football pitch and will be housed in a dedicated building that will enable visitors to examine it in detail.
It is believed it will have glass-floored decks over the model on which tourists could walk to better study the minute detail.
Mr Lootah declined to say whether the project was intended as part of the developments scheduled in case Dubai won the right to host Expo 2020.
The cost of the project is unknown.
Dubai is home to several model-making firms, which take the majority of their business from trade fairs such as CityScape.
While trade has been down in recent years, many have been buoyed by new orders ahead of this year’s CityScape.
mcroucher@thenational.ae
